Festivals and special events are important to the traditional culture
of the people of Hong Kong. Some of the main festivals are as follows:

LATE JANUARY - FEBRUARY: CHINESE NEW YEAR
This family festival involves the same ideas of change and renewal as
its equivalents around the world. "Kung hay fat choi" means
Happy New Year.

FEBRUARY: YUEN SIU (THE LANTERN FESTIVAL)
This festival marks the last official day of the New Year Festival and
also has some of the characteristics of the West's Valentine's Day.

APRIL: CHING MING FESTIVAL
At this festival the families go together to visit the graves of their
ancestors.

APRIL AND MAY: TIN HAU AND TAM KUNG
Tin Hau and Tam Kung are fishermen's festivals.

JUNE: TUEN NG (THE DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL)
At this festival races take place in the harbour and at most of the islands.

AUGUST: THE MAIDENS' FESTIVAL/SEVEN SISTERS' FESTIVAL
This is a special event for young girls and lovers.

LATE AUGUST: FESTIVAL OF THE HUNGRY GHOSTS
At this festival, regarded as an unlucky day, families take paper offerings
such as homes, cars, money, food, clothes, etc. and burn them as gifts
for the ghosts.

AUTUMN: MOON CAKE
This festival is similar to a Harvest Festival and remembers a revolt
against the Mongols when secret messages were passed on hidden in cakes.

OCTOBER: CHEUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL
This festival is based on the story of an old man who was warned to take
his family to the mountains for 24 hours. On their return, they found
that everyone in their village was dead. On this day people make visits
to high places.